The Return of Mechanical Watches: Why Gen Z is Going Analog
Gen Z, the generation born with iPhones in one hand and TikTok in the other, is falling in love with something that doesn’t buzz, vibrate, or count their steps: the humble mechanical watch. Yep, it’s happening, the kids are winding watches again. Here's why.
Credit - Seiko
1. It’s About the Vibe, Not the Tech
A mechanical watch has zero notifications. No Bluetooth. No fitness tracking. It just… well it ticks. In a digital world that never shuts up, a simple piece of engineering on your wrist feels like a rebellion.
Watch to Know: Seiko 5 Sports SRPK35
Automatic 4R36 movement
Day-date display
100m water resistance
Retro looks, solid movement, and zero distractions. It’s everything a smartwatch isn’t.
Credit - Timex
2. Vintage is the New New
Watches that look like they came from your dad’s drawer are suddenly hot property. Gen Z is leaning hard into nostalgic, slightly wonky design. The kind you can’t replicate on a screen.
Watch to Know: Timex x Q Reissue
Quartz movement
Period-correct bracelet
Pepsi bezel
It’s pure throwback energy, and for the price of a takeaway and a train ticket, it looks effortlessly cool.
Credit - Baltic
3. TikTok Made Them Do It
WatchTok is real. And it’s creating a new generation of collectors who don’t care about Rolex waitlists or snobbery. They care about what looks good, what has a story, and what goes clack when you wind it.
Watch to Know: Baltic MR01
Micro-rotor Hangzhou movement
36mm case
Creamy, old-school vibes
Baltic's rise has been fuelled almost entirely by watch nerds and TikTokers. And it shows no signs of slowing.
We’re certainly fans here in the office. A brand that backs up the hype.
Credit - Tissot
4. They Want to Understand How Things Work
A movement that runs on springs and gears feels like magic. It’s tactile. It’s mechanical. It’s the opposite of touchscreens and 3-second battery swaps.
Watch to Know: Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 in Carbon
Automatic movement with 80-hour reserve
Rubber Strap
Sapphire crystal
You can wear it every day. Or if you’ve had a hard day, well, you can just take it off and stare at the back. It just works.
Final Thoughts: TikTok Trends or True Shift?
Yes, some of this is about aesthetics. And sure, a few mechanical watches will probably end up next to cassette players and vinyl in the nostalgia bin. But the interest is real, and growing stronger each day. Gen Z isn’t just going analog. They’re going deliberate. They’re asking what matters. And if that means wearing a 36mm hand-wound Seiko instead of an Apple Watch, that sounds like a win.